Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Gathering Qi Beyond the Heavens
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The Empty Attestation Method was destined for my use!
This was the sole thought in Lu Yang's mind after hearing the warning from the Pure Clarity Flying Snow True Lord. That confidence, naturally, came from the Book of a Hundred Lives.
‘Empty attestation of the fruit position—the greatest issue is nothing more than being cast aside by the Dao Lords once it's done, like killing the donkey that ground the mill. But I'm different. As long as I restart right at the instant I attain the fruit position and bring it back with me, the fruit position will have been cleansed by the Book of a Hundred Lives by then. No cause, no effect—what can the Dao Lords do to me?’
Lu Yang struggled to keep a straight face and held back his laughter as he watched the Pure Clarity Flying Snow True Lord depart.
With Chongguang's death, the mysterious True Lord vanished once more. The various True Lords dispersed their fruit positions, and the vault of heaven returned to clear skies, as if no great battle had ever taken place.
"Come back with me."
Lu Yang glanced at Many Treasures Child, who had stood guard outside the blessed land the entire time, looking anxious and afraid to leave. He gave a faint smile.
"Fellow Daoist, you do have some merit."
After all, he wasn't some great fiend.
Loose cultivators had it hard. Small sects had it even harder. Lu Yang saw himself as a man of great empathy, so he naturally wouldn't make things too difficult for Many Treasures Child.
Besides, there was no more oil or water to squeeze from him.
Yet just those words nearly brought Many Treasures Child to tears.
What kind of miserable days had he endured lately? Ever since leaving Jiangbei and defecting to another side, nothing he did went right, and he was constantly misunderstood.
He had even been shaken down and extorted by the Sword Pavilion earlier, nursing a belly full of rage.
Looking back now, only the Saint Sect truly appreciated talent and saw the ability hidden beneath his facade. How could he have been so muddleheaded as to betray them?
In the past, a casual compliment from Lu Yang never would have stirred such emotions in Many Treasures Child. But after a string of harsh lessons, realizing he had not only survived but earned merit, Many Treasures Child nearly wept with joy.
"Thank you, milord!"
Lu Yang nodded at the sight. Only then did he draw the Avici Sword. A streak of sword qi reduced the unconscious Ye Guyue nearby to dust. With that, he strode away.
Saint Sect, Luofeng Mountain.
After casually sending Many Treasures Child on his way, Lu Yang wandered the mountain, listening to the clamor of voices. It was a way to unwind from days of tension.
Cultivation required balance—taut by day, relaxed by night. That was the proper path.
Yet even though he hadn't been gone long, Lu Yang now felt as if a lifetime had passed. The mountain was far too lively.
Crowds packed the place, rivaling the old days at Heaven Mending Peak—and perhaps surpassing it. Many disciples cultivated Witch-Ghost Dao methods. After all, under Tingyou Ancestor's arrangements, those techniques were thirty percent cheaper than others, with monthly limited-time discounts.
"How is it?"
The Myriad Spirits Banner fluttered. Tingyou Ancestor's figure materialized beside Lu Yang, his face touched with emotion, a genuine smile in his words.
"You've worked hard, Ancestor."
Lu Yang mirrored the sentiment.
"Thinking back, our lineage was a single thread of transmission, no better than loose cultivators. To reach this day feels like a dream."
Tingyou Ancestor glanced at Lu Yang, a flicker of heartache in his eyes. An image formed in his mind: a second-generation Witch-Ghost Dao disciple, oppressed by the Sword Pavilion, heartsick every night yet never forgetting the sect's revival. He patted Lu Yang's shoulder.
"You've suffered."
Lu Yang shook his head solemnly.
"Striving for the sect's revival isn't suffering. My abilities are limited. You'll still need to labor on, Ancestor."
Tingyou Ancestor nodded and spoke first.
"The Saint Sect True Lords have broader knowledge than I. So put aside first-grade Empty Attestation for now. Second-grade, though—we can consider it carefully."
"Disciple understands."
Lu Yang nodded—not because he'd truly given up, but food was eaten bite by bite, paths walked step by step. Rush too hard, and snap—you'd end up hurting yourself down there.
‘Take the second-grade method path first. Probe the details slowly. Then think about Empty Attestation. Actually, the best way is the orthodox one. Form a Golden Core first, no matter what. Then reverse-engineer the method. Leapfrogging suits me.’
"What are your next plans?"
Watching Lu Yang sink into thought, Tingyou Ancestor asked with concern.
"Increasing your realm and qi fortune to seek a second innate divine ability—that won't be easy."
"And Saint Sect... you know how it is."
Tingyou Ancestor spoke obliquely.
Lu Yang knew full well. As the Pure Clarity Flying Snow True Lord had said, she would invite a True Lord to help refine the Undying Cypress into a grand pill. Once formed, consuming it would fill his cultivation foundation.
It sounded ideal. But this was the Saint Sect. A pill refined by a Saint Sect True Lord—could he eat it? Who knew what they'd slipped in?
After careful deliberation, though, Lu Yang shook his head.
"The True Lord won't harm me."
"You have assurance?" Tingyou Ancestor frowned.
With the Book of a Hundred Lives in hand and a lifeline assured, Lu Yang felt no fear. His face, though, was pure sincerity.
"No. But I trust the True Lord."
"You're quite loyal."
Before Lu Yang finished, before Tingyou Ancestor could respond, a third voice rang out—accompanied by leisurely footsteps.
Tingyou Ancestor's lips froze. Lu Yang's smile faltered. Vast shock surged in his heart.
‘Who!?‘
Lu Yang whipped around. Beside him stood a woman in brocade robes and a rosy cape, her raven hair cascading like a waterfall. She looked gentle and poised.
‘Great Real Person? True Lord?’
Thoughts raced. Both could approach undetected. But he decided in a flash.
"Disciple pays respects to True Lord!"
"Oh?"
The woman seemed surprised, then curious.
"You recognize me?"
Lu Yang bowed respectfully.
"No. But no matter your cultivation, senior, disciple calls you True Lord. It's always better to aim high."
"Sharp-tongued."
She smiled.
"I am the Painted Silk Variegated Gauze True Lord. Feihong—that is, your Pure Clarity Flying Snow True Lord—is an old acquaintance."
"She called me from seclusion this time specifically for you. To refine a Jia Wood pill to bolster your realm—for your second innate divine ability."
With that, she shook her gauze robe. Clouds and mist rose from her hem, lifting her into a cloud pavilion.
"The Undying Cypress. Hand it over."
Lu Yang didn't hesitate. He produced the spiritual material from Ye Guyue. She took it, examined it closely.
"Hm. Quite mature."
"Pity about Chongguang."
She shook her head. Clouds formed a teapot. She tossed in the Undying Cypress and shook it gently.
"I also heard you're going qi gathering?"
Even in casual tones, Lu Yang dared not slack.
"Replying to True Lord, that was also Pure Clarity Flying Snow True Lord's order. She said gathering qi beyond the heavens aids qi fortune growth—helps seek Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha."
"Good method. Risky, though. In the past century, you've been the flashiest in our Saint Sect. After this uproar, your fame echoes everywhere. Sword Pavilion lost several Foundation Establishment cultivators in succession—directly or indirectly—all tied to you."
"You're a hot commodity now."
Curious, she asked:
"Still sending you beyond the heavens? Either Feihong truly trusts your strength... or you've offended her somehow."
‘...Huh?’
Lu Yang froze, then ventured carefully:
"Dare ask True Lord—what dangers face someone like disciple beyond the heavens?"
She laughed.
"Someone like you—mid-stage Foundation Establishment in a century, nearing mid-stage perfection as a Real Person—means luck on your side, exceptional talent. In a sense, you're heaven and earth's pure essence gathered. In other words, you're premium qi."
"Premium qi... me...?"
Lu Yang's pupils shrank. One realization hit hard: Was qi gathering exclusive to this world's cultivators?
Beyond the heavens—was relative!
In other words, if he went, while gathering qi from other realms... he'd become qi-gathering prey for their cultivators!